*Book Blogger Hop* Getting Out of Reading Slumps

We are on to a new week for the Book Blogger Hop hosted by the lovely folks over at Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer. This weeks questions is: 

Sometimes, readers get into funks and maybe stop reading or feel like reading is work. What do you do to get yourself out of a reading funk? (submitted by Nicole @ The Christian Fiction Girl)

I wish I felt like I had a good answer for this question, but I don't often find myself in what I consider an insurmountable reading slump, and when I do, I don't have any skills or tricks to get out of that. I'm constantly reading more than one book at a time, so if the book currently in my hands isn't doing it for me, I just pick up a different book to read. The last time I remember being in a real reading slump was when I was still working at Culver's. I was getting burnt out on everything, and I was also doing freelance proofreading at the time, so that contributed to my burnout, and it took me a while to pick up reading again when my life eventually imploded. 

But now I'm in 13* different book clubs, so I always have a book I should be reading to finish for the next book club meeting (While I have a meeting this Sunday, I finished that book last night and have a whole week to read the next book on my list now, so I'm actually in a good spot at the moment). And while I do typically make the next book club book the focus of my reading, if it's not hitting the spot, I'll power through a few pages and then pick up something that's actually holding my attention. I'm hopeful that these methods will allow me to avoid any reading slumps in the future. 

What about you? What do you do to get out of a reading slump?

If you're stopping by from the linkup, please drop a link to your post below so I can be sure to stop by and check out your full answer. - Katie 

*Review* There's a Robot in My Socks by Meredith Rusu

 

Genre: Children's 4-7 years

Published: September 17, 2024

Pages: 40

Beep, boop, bop! This robot won't stop!

Jamie has a robot in her socks that makes sure things go just right! But when a trip to Grandma's house messes up Jamie's routine, will her robot start to fritz and fight? 

Filled with catchy rhymes and lively illustrations, this Mighty Moods story is the perfect read-aloud for parents and kids who might discover they have robots that get nervous about change—and that's okay! 

The "Mighty Moods" series is a delightful collection of picture books that explores the many ways children express big emotions. 

I received a copy of this book through Netgalley. This is my honest review. 

This was a fun little rhyming story about a little kid who seems to be autism coded. The kid spends the day with their grandma and all of Grandma's routines are wrong, causing a lot of mini-meltdowns for the kid. The kid explains that the robot in their socks is the reason for the behavior, so Grandma shares her own robot story. And that helps them navigate their day a bit better. 

I thought the robot in the socks was pretty silly, which makes the story fun. But it also opens up the means to talk with your children about some of their routines and the motivations for it I think. The illustrations were very bold and colorful, and kind of fun. 

Overall I give There's a Robot in my Socks 4.2973 out of 5 stars. - Katie 

Amazon

Meredith Rusu is a children’s book author specializing in titles based on television and movies. She has written more than one hundred books from preschool to young adult for brands such as LEGO, Disney/Pixar, Peppa Pig, American Girl, and Star Wars. She is also the author of The DATA Set chapter book series under the pen name Ada Hopper. Visit her author website: www.meredithrusu.com

*Review* Into the Sunken City by Dinesh Thiru

Genre: YA Dystopian

Published: January 23, 2024

Pages: 363

In the slowly sinking city of Coconino, Arizona, the days are long, the money is tight, and the rain never stops.

For Jin Haldar, this life is nothing new—ever since her father died in a diving accident, she’s barely made ends meet for her and her younger sister, Thara.

Enter Bhili: a drifter who offers Jin and Thara the score of a lifetime—a massive stash of gold hidden in the sunken ruins of Las Vegas.

Jin knows it’s too dangerous. She stopped diving after her father’s accident. But when her sister decides to go, Jin’s left with only one choice: to go with her.

A ragtag crew is assembled—including Jin’s annoyingly hot ex-boyfriend. From there, a high-stakes heist ensues that’s beyond even Jin’s wildest fears. Crumbling ruins, sea beasts, corsairs, and a mysterious figure named João Silva all lie in wait. To survive, Jin will have to do what she promised herself she’d never do again: dive.

I received the audiobook version of this book through Netgalley. This is my honest review. 

I was immediately drawn into this dystopian world where it rains all the time and the earth is getting progressively more flooded. It made perfect sense to me that in a world like that, people who could free dive would eke out a living by hunting for drowned treasure in the cities below the sea. Being kidnapped to go treasure hunting in old Vegas just felt like it was par for the course. 

I felt invested in this story very early on, which made it a quick listen because I didn't want to stop. I couldn't help rooting for Jin to outwit the bad guys but also still come away with the treasure because I'm all about the underdog. 

The narration was soothing and I never felt like the opposite gendered voices felt like caricatures. 

Overall I give Into the Sunken City 3.9783 out of 5 stars. - Katie 

Amazon

Dinesh Thiru is a writer and stay-at-home dad currently living in Barcelona. He grew up in North Carolina, married his college sweetheart from the University of Pennsylvania, and spent over a decade in San Francisco. Dinesh is half-Indian, half-white. He loves the ocean. He used to have other interests, but he swapped them for kids. Those kids are seven, four, and a dog. You can find him at dineshthiru.com.

*Review* Let's Go, Kitty by Holly Rosensweig

 

Genre: Children's 1-3 years

Published: August 27, 2024

Pages: 20

From the Award winning author of Let's Go, Puppy!

Come and play with Kitty!

From spilling a glass of milk -- “Wet, wet, wet" -- to chasing a ball of yarn -- “Bounce, bounce, bounce" -- to getting stuck in a tree -- "Help, help, help!" Kitty's mischief provides fun opportunities to introduce early speech sounds, words, and actions.

Written by a speech-language pathologist, this playful, interactive story helps enhance early communication development in babies and toddlers. Let's Go, Kitty! promotes babies' ability to recognize and imitate sounds, strengthens familiarity through the repetition of words, enriches basic vocabulary, and builds confidence through praise.

Tips for caregivers as well as a list of the earliest-developing speech sounds are included.

I received a copy of this book through Netgalley. This is my honest review. 

This book used very simple words because it is targeted towards literal babies, and toddlers I guess. It's entire goal is to encourage the use of early words, which means it's very repetitive when discussing what the kitty is doing throughout the day. This is exactly the kind of book that I hated reading when my kids were little because it just gets so boring as an adult, but I would do it anyway because I know how valuable it is for the vocabulary skills of my children. 

The illustrations were also very simple and very bold, showing the things that Kitty was doing throughout the day. Overall I give Let's Go, Kitty 4.7397 out of 5 stars, because it's a great book for it's intended purpose. 

Amazon

Holly Rosensweig, M.A. CCC-SLP is a speech-language pathologist and educational resource creator with over a decade of experience providing pediatric evaluations and treatment in the private practice setting. She uses a play-based approach to therapy, incorporating books, toys, games, music, and movement into her sessions. Holly loves working on a team with families, teachers, and other professionals to help children progress. She lives in Maryland just outside of Washington, DC, where her two goofy pups keep her very busy!

*Review* The Kingdom of Sweets by Erika Johansen

 

Genre: Magical Realism

Published: November 28, 2023

Pages: 365

Twin sisters, divided by envy and magic, set against one another on a fateful Christmas Eve

Light and dark—this is the cursed birthright placed upon Clara and Natasha by their godfather, Drosselmeyer, whose power and greed hold an entire city in his sway. Charming Clara, the favorite, grows into a life of beauty and ease, while ignored and unloved Natasha is relegated to her sister’s shadow.
 
But the opportunity for revenge announces itself one Christmas Eve, when Drosselmeyer arrives at their family gala with the Nutcracker, an enchanted gift that offers entry into an alternate world: the Kingdom of Sweets.
 
Following Clara into the glittering land of snow and sugar, Natasha discovers a source of power far greater than Drosselmeyer: the Sugar Plum Fairy, who offers her own wondrous gifts . . . and deadly bargains. But as Natasha unspools the truth about a dark destiny crafted long before her birth, she must reckon with forces both earthly and magical, human and diabolical, and decide to which world she truly belongs.

I received a copy of this book through Netgalley. This is my honest review. 

This is a dark take on the classic Nutcracker story told from Natasha's POV. While Clara is seemingly experiencing all the wonder of the realm of the Sugar Plum Fairy, Natasha, who wasn't expected, sees the dark underbelly hidden underneath the sugary sweetness. This also allows her to make a bargain of her own to get everything she thought she ever wanted. But you should always be careful what you wish for. 

For me this book read like a slightly fantastical  historical fiction, with most of the tale grounded in reality. Since I typically enjoy historical fiction, I loved that aspect of the story. And I felt very invested in Natasha's life after she struck a deal with the Sugar Plum Fairy. 

Overall I give The Kingdom of Sweets 4.1378 out of 5 stars. - Katie 

Amazon

Erika Johansen grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area. She is a graduate of Swarthmore College and the Iowa Writers' Workshop. She eventually became an attorney, but she never stopped writing. She lives in England.

*Top Ten Tuesday* Spring 2025 TBR

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. Joood - Hooligan of Platypire reviews bossed me into doing this, so I guess this is a thing I do now. 

This week’s theme is Spring TBR. That means it's time for me to play another game of Netgalley Request Roulette. Instead of defaulting to YA like I typically do, because I think I just played roulette a few weeks ago, I asked my Facebook friends what genre I should play in. I was give then options of thrillers or romance, so I went with thrillers because I've been reading a lot of them lately. Let's go!

Title: You Can't Stay

Author: S.T. Ashman

Publisher: Victory Editing Netgalley Co-op

Release Date: May 31, 2025

Request: Pending

Blurb

Not everything lost should be found.

When Esther’s sister vanishes without a trace, no one cares—not for a struggling addict.

But Esther refuses to let the only family she has left slip away. Her search becomes an obsession, uncovering whispers of a dark secret others have died to keep buried.

Dozens of disappearances.

The same location.

The same lie.

Every year, the government sends a group of people deep into New Hampshire’s White Mountains.
And every year, they don’t return.

Soon, another group of people will be sent into the woods. And this time, Esther will be among them.

But not everything lost should be found. In the heart of the wilderness, some secrets are meant to die.

Amazon

Title: The Whistler

Author: Nick Medina

Publisher: Berkley

Release Date: September 16, 2025

Request: Pending

Blurb

A young man is haunted by a mythological specter bent on stealing everything he loves in this unsettling horror from the author of Indian Burial Ground and Sisters of the Lost Nation.

For fear of summoning evil spirits, Native superstition says you should never, ever whistle at night.

Henry Hotard was on the verge of fame, gaining a following and traction with his eerie ghost-hunting videos. Then his dreams came to a screeching halt. Now, he's learning to navigate a new life in a wheelchair, back on the reservation where he grew up, relying on his grandparents’ care while he recovers.

And he’s being haunted.

His girlfriend, Jade, insists he just needs time to adjust to his new reality as a quadriplegic, that it’s his traumatized mind playing tricks on him, but Henry knows better. As the specter haunting him creeps closer each night, Henry battles to find a way to endure, to rid himself of the horror stalking him. Worried that this dread might plague him forever, he realizes the only way to exile his phantom is by confronting his troubled past and going back to the events that led to his injury.

It all started when he whistled at night....

Amazon

Title: Forget Me Not

Author: Stacy Willingham

Publisher: Minotaur Books

Release Date: August 26, 2025

Request: Pending

Blurb

A pulse-pounding new Southern thriller from the author of the runaway bestseller A Flicker in the Dark.

Twenty-two years ago, Claire Campbell’s older sister, Natalie, disappeared shortly after her eighteenth birthday. Days later, her blood was found in a car, a man was arrested, and the case was swiftly closed. In the decades since, Claire has attempted to forget her traumatic past by moving to the city and climbing the ranks as an investigative journalist... until an unexpected call from her father forces her to come back home and face it all anew.

With the entire summer now looming ahead—a summer spent with nothing to do in her childhood home, with her estranged mother—Claire decides on a whim to accept a seasonal job at Galloway Farm, a muscadine vineyard in coastal South Carolina less than an hour away from where she grew up. At first glance, Galloway is an idyllic escape for Claire. A scenic retreat full of slow-paced nostalgia, as well as a place where her sister seemed truly happy in that last summer before she vanished, it feels like the perfect plan to pass the time. However, as soon as Claire starts to settle in, she stumbles across an old diary written by one of the vineyard's owners, and what at first seems like a story of young rebellion and love turns into something much more sinister as it begins to describe details of various unsolved crimes. As the days stretch on, Claire finds herself becoming more and more secluded as she starts to obsess over the diary's contents… as well as the lingering feeling that her own sister's disappearance may be somehow tied to it all.

Galloway was supposed to be a place to help her move forward, but instead, Claire quickly finds herself immersed in her own dark and dangerous past.

Amazon

Title: The Final Wife

Author: Jenny Blackhurst

Publisher: Canelo Suspense

Release Date: April 17, 2025

Request: Pending

Blurb

Till death do us part…

Luke Whitney is stabbed to death. His wife Anna confesses after she is found next to his lifeless body. But if she did it, why can’t she confirm any of the details of the crime?

As police dig into the circumstances, they learn that the victim was a liar, a cheat and a narcissist. More than one person had a reason to want him dead; his scorned ex, his neglected mistress and Anna – who knows what happens to Mrs Whitneys when Luke gets bored of them.

Luke Whitney had it coming. But who made sure he got what he deserved?

The latest twisty, propulsive psychological thriller from international bestseller Jenny Blackhurst. Perfect for fans of Adele Parks, Claire Douglas and Shari Lapena.

Amazon

Title: Shake the Jar

Author: Kevin Barry O'Connor

Publisher: Victory Editing Netgalley Co-op

Release Date: April 29, 2025

Request: Pending

Blurb

A savage bayonet charge. A flash of musket fire. The soldier fell dead, his face shattered. Arin Murphy stood frozen—an unwilling witness to an 1814 battlefield, reliving a violent moment from her family’s past. The man who pulled the trigger? Her ancestor. To discover who he is and where her slave descendant family came from, she follows his clues from Jamaica to Chile and the Golden Triangle in Thailand.

As the world teeters on the brink of catastrophe, Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine threatens to unleash chaos. China stands poised to invade Taiwan, a geopolitical gambit that would plunge Washington into disarray. But deep in Southeast Asia, an even darker conspiracy unfolds. A covert strike is in motion, orchestrated from the very heart of the Golden Triangle.

Key and Arin Murphy entered the most lawless place in Southeast Asia, the center of drug and human trafficking. With both of their lives on the line, Key faces an impossible choice. To save millions, he may have to risk everything. The countdown to global chaos has begun…

Amazon

Title: Hatchet Girls

Author: Joe R. Lansdale

Publisher: Mulholland Books

Release Date: August 19, 205

Request: Pending

Blurb

Hap and Leonard never go looking for trouble, and yet trouble, in the more vicious and ridiculous of forms always seems to find them. Your next dose of pitch-black comedy, mystery, and mayhem has arrived, just as the best friends may finally be calling it quits.

When Hap and Leonard are called in on a strange request (subduing a meth-hopped hog) by a desperate young lady, they quickly learn this woman is part of a fringe group: The Hatchet Girls, who have pledged their allegiance to a crazed and grudge-bearing leader bent on bloody societal revenge. The timing couldn't be worse to be caught in such a vile, sticky wicket of a case: both boys are wrapped up in their domestic lives: Leonard is in the midst of wedding planning with fiancee, Pookie. And meanwhile, Hap and Brett are hard at work on their new home. Homemaking bliss will have to wait as Hap and Leonard are driven to stop the danger in its tracks and better understand the group's mission and the plans they have already set in place for helter-skelter esque mayhem.

Life changes, midnight sneaks, and dark encounters with misguided dames who yell "Chop, Chop," lead Hap and Leonard into one of their darkest adventures yet.

Amazon

Title: Let's Split Up

Author: Bill Wood

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Release Date: September 2, 2025

Request: Pending

Blurb

A heart-pounding thriller tailor-made for the YA BookTokers! Its Scream meets Scooby-Doo in this electrifying horror.

When the town's "it-couple," Brad and Shelley, are found brutally murdered in a secluded manor, a brave group of teen friends takes on the mystery.

Set in 2001 Sanera, California-a small, quiet community where nothing ever happens-the shocking murders shake everyone, leaving them to believe the ghost of a murdered landowner has finally taken his revenge. Join Cam, Jonesy, Amber, and the new girl Buffy as they dig deeper into the sinister secrets of the mansion. With every clue they uncover, the eerie rumors seem frighteningly real. As they decide whether to stick together or split up to find evidence, they must face the ultimate question: will this decision be their salvation or their doom?

Amazon

Title: Grim

Author: Sara B. Elfgren

Publisher: Arctis US

Release Date: March 7, 2023

Request: Pending

Blurb

Eighteen-year-old Kasper has gone through a rough time, but now he has landed his dream job at the amusement park Gröna Lund. He befriends Iris who teaches him how to terrify guests in the haunted house. Thirty years earlier, in Stockholm of the eighties, sixteen-year-old Håkan's life changes when he meets Grim. They live and breathe music and have big plans for their death metal band. But it all comes to nothing when Grim dies. Håkan breaks up the band.What really happened? Kasper, who is Håkan's son, tries to find out the truth. Together with Iris he delves into the myths and secrets surrounding the band, and his dad's best friend. Grim, who inexplicably died at such a young age. Who was he? And why does he appear in Kasper's dreams?

Amazon

Title: The Girls in the Basement

Author: Steena Holmes

Publisher: Joffe Books

Release Date: April 10, 2025

Request: Pending

Blurb

Jillian thought she knew her husband. They’ve been married for twenty years. But she doesn’t know him at all.

Jillian Harper thought moving to the quiet little town in Montana would be the fresh start her family needed. A charming farmhouse, friendly neighbors, and endless open fields — it was supposed to be perfect.

Until the bodies are found.

Buried deep on their land. Hidden for years.

The police are everywhere. The town is whispering. And Tucker — her devoted husband — is acting . . . strange. He won’t tell her where he was all day. He won’t explain why his phone was off. And worst of all — he won’t meet her eyes.

Jillian knows Tucker is lying. She just doesn’t know why.

But the truth is far worse than she imagined. Because someone left those bodies there. Maybe the real monster isn’t lurking out there in the fields . . . Maybe he’s sleeping in her bed.

Amazon

Title: The Boyfriend

Author: John Nicholl

Publisher: Boldwood Books

Release Date: April 4, 2025

Request: Pending

Blurb

Not every love story is a fairytale romance…

When Anna first meets Mark, she thinks he’s the perfect boyfriend. 

Wealthy and charming, he showers her with gifts, compliments, everything she has ever desired.

But Mark is less a prince than a man with a dangerous secret, and as their love life becomes ever darker, Anna flees him.

There is nowhere safe from him, though. Not for Anna. Nor for the girlfriends who follow her.

Because this is a boyfriend who would kill to make sure he can continue to kiss sleeping princesses…

A pulse-poundingly gripping suspense thriller, perfect for fans of Daniel Hurst, TM Logan and Anita Waller.

Amazon

Title: Mercy

Author: Patricia Ward

Publisher: HarperCollins

Release Date: October 7, 2025

Request: Pending

Blurb

There is no publicly available blurb for this book, so I do not feel comfortable sharing the one I have access to on Netgalley in a public way. But that's largely irrelevant as I picked this book based almost entirely on the cover anyway, so this just means that you get to judge it the same way that I did. 

Amazon

If you were counting, you'll notice that there are 11 books here and not ten...and although the book that was originally published in 2023 required requesting (which is why I didn't notice it had already been published), I could access it right now without approval, so it doesn't count. But it stays here because I did have to request it, so it's still part of roulette, I just had an extra round in the chamber I guess. 

Which of these books do you think looks most intriguing? Any of them you really want to read now? What books are on your Spring TBR list? 

If you're stopping by from the linkup, please be sure to drop a link to your post below so I can stop by and check out your list. - Katie 

*Review* The Little Christmas Tree by Thomas Meyer

 

Genre: Children's 4-8 years

Published: October 8, 2024

Pages: 32

It’s the size of one’s heart that matters most in this heartfelt Christmas story for young readers!

Alex the Christmas tree is teased because he is the smallest fir tree in the tree nursery. He can’t hold as many ornaments, he can’t stand as tall . . . Alex isn’t sure any animal family will want him as their Christmas tree. When the families come to choose their fir tree, Alex isn’t noticed at first. But then Selma, the smallest rabbit of all, discovers him. The rabbit family takes Alex home, and they all celebrate and sing together–even Alex, the littlest Christmas tree with the biggest holiday spirit!

Swiss best-selling author Thomas Meyer tells the story with humor and a big dose of Christmas spirit. Philippe Goossen’s pictures create a warm mood, and his characters win hearts–big and small.

I received a copy of this book through Netgalley. This is my honest review. 

This was a cute story about the smallest tree at Christmas tree school. He is bullied by the big jock like trees, really mirroring the way school actually tends to function, but then he is finally chosen by the last family that visits the tree farm looking for their Christmas tree. Not that they had many options at that point. 

I like the overall message of the story that you are wonderful and good just the way you are, but I wasn't very fond of the fact that he was still picked last. The kids that are going to relate to the poor little tree are already familiar with getting picked last. The illustrations were bold and colorful. 

Overall I give The Little Christmas Tree 3.5978 out of 5 stars. - Katie 

Amazon

Thomas Meyer was born in Zürich, Switzerland. After studying law for three semesters, he became a copywriter. Since 2007 he has made his living as a writer. In 2012 his highly regarded debut novel appeared. A film adaptation under the title The Awakening of Motti Wolkenbruch was released in 2018. The Little Christmas Tree is his second children’s book. Thomas Meyer lives in Zürich.

Philippe Goossens was born in Brussels, Belgium, where he still lives today. Since completing his studies at the Institut Saint-Luc, Goossens has worked as a freelance illustrator, and for some time now has focused on books for children and young adults. At NorthSouth he is known above all as the illustrator of the Owl Howl books. The story of the howling owl chick is a NorthSouth classic. About his creative work he says, "When the crayon sets off on its great journey across the paper, the table vanishes, the walls disappear, and unexpected notes come in."

Marshall Yarbroughis a writer, translator, and musician. He has translated a number of books for NorthSouth. He lives in New York City with his wife and daughter.